Improvement in draw-bridge lock and signal



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

OLIVER H. PERRY, or NEWTOWN, AND EDWARD r. WATSON, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN DRAW-BRIDGE LOCK AND SIGNAL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,160, datedSeptember 11, 1877; application filed August 24, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OLIVER I-I. PERRY, of the town of Newtown, countyof Queens, and EDWARD P. WA'rsoN, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draw-BridgeLock and Signal; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The draw-bridge is provided with a signal which can be operated toindicate safety only when the draw is closed and locked, and whichindicates danger when the draw is unlocked, and will so continue toindicate during the time said draw remains unlocked. This is not new,broadly considered.

The invention claimed consists, mainly, in the arrangement of the signalupon the stationary part of the bridge, and one portion of the signaloperating and locking devices upon said stationary part, while the otherportion is placed upon the draw, the two portions being in such relationto each other and to the fixed lock that movement of the two operatingportions must originate upon the draw, the act of opening whichautomatically disconnects the two portions and renders their operation,as to the signal, impossible, while the closing of the sameautomatically engages the said operating devices, so that the signal maybe changed from danger to safety or line clear.

A distinguishing feature of the invention lies in the construct-ion andadaptation of the device to effect the clutching and unclutching of thesignatoperating rods by the closing and opening of the draw, and, inconnection therewith, of a fixed lock to receive and confine theclutched rods.

It consists, further, in certain novel devices and combinations thereoffor effecting the automatic engagement and disengagement above referredto.

The various details of construction involved in our invent-ion, and theoperation thereof,

will be hereinafter fully described and explained with reference to thedrawings, in which Figure 1 represents a draw-bridge lock and signalconstructed according to our invention, the draw being locked and thesignal indicating safety or line clear. Fig. 2 shows the draw unlockedand the signal indicating danger. Fig. 3 is a view showing the drawopen. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the clutch of the signal-operatingrods, and Fig. 5 the operating-lever frame and the stops for theclutch-connection.

In the several figures of the drawings, A represents the stationarystructure of a drawbridge and the draw, which is pivoted at its center,and swings in the ordinary manner. Upon the stationary structure A isarranged a signal-post, U, near the top of which is piv' oted asemaphoric signal'arm, D, from which a rod, E, extends downward, and isjointed to one arm, f, of a bent or bell-crank lever, F, to the otherarm, f, of which is jointed a horizontal rod, G, extending toward thedraw 13, and supported by a vibratory arm, g. The end of this horizontalarm G which is near the draw is .formed into a solid head, H. Upon thedraw B is another horizontal rod, I, which is supported in the samemanner as rod G, and has its end adjacent to said rod Gr provided with aring-head, K, which is of proper size to receive the solid head II, andhas an open slot, h, cut through its walls toward the lock, while therod (l itself is of suitable size to fit in the opening It. The oppositeend of rod I is jointed to a handlever, L, arranged upon the draw.

A lock or strong casing, M, is arranged upon or near the edge of thestationary part of the bridge, and consists, essentially, of the twovertical walls on m, one of which is arranged upon each side of the pathof the rods G and I, and at such distance apart as to allow the ends ofsaid rods to pass between them when said ends are connected.

\Vhen the draw and the rods are in. the positions shown in Fig. 1., theconnected ends of the rods G and I are between the walls m m of the lockM, and the rod I acts as a bolt to prevent the turning in eitherdirection of the draw 13, as will be readily seen, and in this positionof the parts the signal-arm D is thrown down alongside the post 0, andthus indicates that the line is clear or the passage of the draw safe.Then, by the action of the hand-lever L, the rods G and I are moved tothe position shown in Fig. 2, the connected ends of said rods areremoved from between the walls on m of the lock M, and the same actioncauses the arm f of the bell-crank lever F to pull upward the rod E,thereby throwing upward the signal-arm D to a position at a right anglewith the post 0, in which position it indicates danger.

The throw of the operating-lever may be regulated by suitable stops 1?I? on the frame Q, in which it works, as shown in the drawings. Thesestops limit the movement of the clutch-rods in the locking and unlockingaction.

It will be readily understood that a signal may be arranged in eitherdirection, or both up and down the line from the draw, and that both ofsaid signals may be operated by the same hand -lever upon the draw. Insuch case the-rods which operate the signal-arms should be so connectedto said arms that both of said arms will move upward or downward at thesame time, which may be accomplished by arranging one signalarm as alever of the first kind and the other as a lever of the second kind.

Suitable stops to the movement of the draw should, of course, beprovided when said draw is intended to turn in both directions; but whenadapted to turn only in one direction the pin-clutch device serves asthe stop to the draw.

In Fi 4 is shown a modification of our invention intended to be appliedto those drawbridges in which the draw turns only in one direction. Thismodificationprovides a stop for the movement of the draw in closing.Instead of having the open-socket or cut-ring terminal, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the rod G is provided with a disk-shaped head, H, fromone side of which projects a pin, h, in the direction of the opening ofthe draw, and instead of the solid circular head, the rod I is providedwith a head in the shape of a ring. When the draw is closed thering-head of red I slips upon the pin h of the rod G and strikes againstthe disk H, thus stopping the draw in position for the connected ends ofthe rods to be moved between the walls m m of the fixed lock M.

In either of the abovedescribed forms of our invention, if properlyconstructed, a movement of the draw of half an inch should be enough topreventthe operation of the signal or signals.

Either of the clutch-rods maybe provided with the ring-head and knob orsolid head.

As it is probable that the semaphore-signal would be used as a distantsignal, there would be near the edge of the bridge a supplemental signalworked in connection with it--say an ordinary quarter-throw target.

lVe claim 1. The combination, with a draw -bridge lock-bolt and anoperating rod or rods of a movable signal, of an automatic clutching andunclutching device, operated by the closing and opening of the draw.

2. The combination of the rod G, connected with a movable signal on thefixed part of the draw, and provided with half of automatic clutchjoint,H, and the red I, located 011 draw B, and provided with the other halfof said automatic clutch-joint, K, substantially as de scribed.

23. The combination of rod Gr, connected with a movable signal, andprovided with one part of an automatic clutch-joint, the red I, locatedupon the draw 13, and provided with the other part of said automaticclutch-joint, and the fixed lock M, having walls at m, substantially asset forth.

4. The operating-rod I upon the draw, having a ring-head, K, providedwith an opening, h, and the signal-operating rod Gr, having a head, H,or vice versa, as described.

5. The lock or casing M, open at both ends, the signal-ope ating rod Gpassing through it from the shore end, and the rod I passing through itfrom the draw to lock and unlock said draw, both said rods being adaptedfor united movement.

' 6. The combination, with the operating-lever, the automatic clutchingand unclutching signal-connections, and the fixed lock, of suitable stopor stops, for the purpose stated.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have affixed our signaturesin the presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER H. PER-RY. EDlVAltl) l. \VATSON.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK J. DONALDSON, ROBERT M. DONALDSON.

